24 thoughts on “Gear on album Golden heart”

1. i think rüdiger lead have a very low speed chorus with about 80% depth, so the higher tones are closer to the original Knopfler tone
   the guitar amp microphone picks up some reflection from the room in the 20-25 ms range and we can simulate this acoustic effect with a delay stompbox
   when you separate the center channel from the original recording without master reverb, you can hear booth described effect and can test with your guitar gear setup

   good luck
   garlok

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2. Bill actually went on to beomce an incredible success by himself in The Bill Black Combo. Leaving Elvis was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was at the time the most famous bass player in America from 1960-1964 and was much more successful than he was with Elvis. Scotty did go back and play, but Bill was really hurt at how they were treated, so he personally chose not to reconcile. Elvis did visit Bill’s wife after he died, which as nice.

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3. Hi Ingo.
   I think Rudiger is played with the Pensa MK1. The “Emg sound” is very clear for me.

   cheers

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   1. I don’t think so. I remember Mark saying that from mid 90ies, he used the pensa only for clean or crunch tones (sultans, telegraph, Romeo end solo, etc…) but nevermore for overdriven tones.
      There is an exception with Vic and Ray on the black Pensa, but if memory serves, all other songs with saturated tones are played on the Les Paul.

      more, he had the pensa MK1 on tour for sultans, telegraph and Romeo, so I guess that if it was this guitar used on the Rûdiger studio version, he would have played this song on the same guitar on tour too.

      But of course, we will never be 100% sure.

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      1. Hi,

         I´m talking about the studio version.
         Live he uses the LP 58′.
         During the GH Tour, he changed the Mk1 for the Mk2 on several songs.
         Because he was tired of the ‘active sound’
         I am 100% sure about the Pensa on the Record.

         Sorry my poor english.

         Cheers!

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         1. Yes I know you were talking about the studio version, I was talking about it too 🙂

            On the tour just after an album release, Mark usually (even if there are some exceptions) plays on the same guitar as the studio version, unless he doesn’t bring the guitar with him on tour.
            during 96 tour, he had the MK1 for Sultans and Telegraph (MK2 was for Golden heart id memory serves), so if he had used the MK1 on Rüdiger studio version, I can’t see why he would have played it live on the LP58, just few months later.

            And indeed, he was tired of the active sound, that’s why at this time he decided to use LP for saturated tones, and Pensa only for clean-crunch tones (sultans and TR).
            From mid 90ies, Mark returned to vintage guitars and amps, and ditched most of the time (but not always) pensa and soldano.

            But of course, it’s just speculation, its’ not a 100% sure theory.

            I have to listen to the studio version again, but I don’t remember any “special” tone on this song. The overall tone on this album is mainly LP, but there’s the Vic and Ray exception, so maybe you’re right ? I doubt we will ever know for sure…

            and don’t worry about your english, mine is quite bad too 🙂

            Ingo ? suggestion(s) ? 🙂

         2. I would also vote for the Les Paul, mainly as this was his tool of choice for all fat sounds at that period.
            BTW, Mark used the active lead cable a lot around this time so it does not make much sense to say he was tired of the active sound. All his guitars were active so to say…

         3. Hi,

            I remember an article from a music magazine from 1996 which had a list of Mark’s equipment for GH (studio and tour). According to this article he didn’t use a Les Paul or a Pensa Suhr for the recording of GH. I think in the list were some of his old Strats (the 54′ sunburst, the red 1961 and I think the white Strat that he used for ‘The Bug’ on OES), the only Gibsons that were mentioned were a ES 330 and a J45 acoustic guitar. If I remember it correctly he also used his Steve Phillips acoustic guitars on the recording. As for amps I remember the Fender Vibrolux, the Marshall JTM45 and his Marshall 4×12 cabinets being in the list.

            I think that that there is some information missing, I can clearly hear the Les Paul on Imelda, Darling Pretty, Are We in Trouble now and on some other songs. The same goes for the Pensa Suhr guitars which were (in my opinion) used for Vic and Ray (the black one) and Gravy Train (MK 1). And I am also pretty sure that he used his Soldanos and Crate amps besides the Vibrolux and JTM 45 in the studio, too. It would be very interesting to know when we can hear which amp and if the Crates were only used for clean sounds or for overdriven sounds, too.

            Anyway, my guess for Rüdiger is the ES 330 because I think the sound is a bit ‘lighter’, the Les Pauls sound a bit darker in my opinion. But as I said this is just what I think it could have been a completely other guitar, too.

            Best wishes

         4. Hi there,

            First of all, sorry my poor english.

            I heard Rudiger again.
            Please listen the song after 4:50. Those licks sounds are ‘pure Pensa’ with a different tone.
            The EMG-85 has a ‘high top sound’ very perceptive. Obviously, the Black Pensa sounds different from the Pensa MK1 (technical explanations is not the point here).
            I think the MK1 is much better.
            So i can hear the similarities from the EMGs with Vic and Ray solo at 2:40 and When It Comes to You middle solos.
            Les Paul with active cables can be heard on ‘You And Your Friend’
            ES-330 its totally off!

            My guess continues with the Pensa.

            Best Wishes!

         5. thanks for the info Wizzard 🙂
            I didn’t know Marks had a 335 in 96, I thought he had one only around the STP album recording

         6. Arthur, the LP on you and your friend is out-of-phase PU, not sure about active cable

         7. Hi,

            I couldn’t find any information when he got his semi-hollow Gibsons but it is possible that he already had the ES330 back in 1996. My guess for Rüdiger is a semi-hollow guitar anyway ;-).

            Best Regards

   2. Hi all,

      I believe that Rudiger was recorded in 1993. So, i vote Pensa 🙂

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4. Hi,

   One thing i know is the Golden Heart album was recorded in 2 parts.
   The first part during 1993. Mark was finished the album and couple of months after he give up.
   He starts to make new songs and finished the album in 1995.
   He dropped some songs and replace for others.

   In some cases i can hear witch songs was recorded before 1993 and 1995

   I believe Rudiger, Vic and Ray, Are We In Trouble Now, Bonaparte and Golden Heart are from 1993.

   Imelda, Darling Pretty, No Can Do, is clearly from 1995 (my opinion)

   And you guys? agreed?

   cheers
   And you guys

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   1. Yes I think you’re right. I think that musicians credits can valid this.
      I believe that my claim to fame is also from 93.
      I added the Pensa MK1 on list of possible guitars on Rüdiger 🙂

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5. Thanks!

   I believe that ‘Gravy Train’ is also from 93.
   Probably ‘Je Suis Désolé’ is from 93… both songs are recorded with Sonny Landreth.
   So ‘I am the Fool’ too
   I think you´re right about ‘My Claim to Fame’
   The song atmosphere is totally different from the rest of the ‘Wag The Dog’ album.

   Secondary Waltz is from 93 i think.

   best wishes!

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   1. Yes, several sessions. If I remember correctly, the musicians for each show are credited. This should be a good hint which songs were from which session.

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6. Hi there.

   I believe that ‘Golden Heart’ song was recorded with the ‘Pensa Mk 2’ or the ‘Another Pensa (Like the MK2 but with hardtail)’

   I remember it from the ‘Night in London’, but listening the album, the pups not sounds like a Fender or Schecter, and its not active. So i stay between these 2 pensas.

   Cheers

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7. Hi Arthur,
   I modified the page and added the 2 guitars you mentioned, but of course with a question mark, because we will never be 100% sure.

   My guess was between the pensa MK1 (because used on tour) and the CAR schecter strat (because seen on videoclip), and the 61 strat (because of Mark’s taste to return to vintage gear at that time) but you seem to be very pointy about pensa sounds, so I rely on your guess. 🙂

   cheers

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8. Hi

   Thx for added the guitars.
   Its really hard to guess some guitars on Mark’s songs.
   About the Pensas, they really sounds different fo me.

   I found some YT videos, and the guitar was the MK2
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJxLBf4OxbY

   But i am not 100% about this on the Album.

   Cheers.

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9. ah yes you are right, he used the MK2 on tour, not the MK1. My memory from the gig I saw in 96 isn’t very accurate….it’s not always easy to get older…
   So I removed the MK1 from the possible guitars, and put the MK2 in the first choice.
   I let the schecter because of the video clip, but maybe was it more a gimmick, for the iconic red color.
   and I let the 61 strat, well just because it’s my fav 😉

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   1. Hi there!
      …it’s not always easy to get older… rsrsr… Relax, getting older = knowledge.

      About GH song, I heard a little delay, maybe added during the mix.
      For me, guessing the amplifier used on this song is almost impossible, but i vote the Crate one.

      Best wishes!

      Reply

10. Does anybody know which amplifier was used for Darling Pretty in the studio? Sounds very similar to the sound of A night in London. Was it Soldano SLO100 ? How to find out about it? I’ve read many articles about three different amps like SLO100, Jim Keley or even Trainwreck or JTM45. For sure Rudiger or Vic And Roy is SLO100 (I own this amp and it sounds the same, but I’m not sure what about Darling Pretty which sounds a little bit different.

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